Shohei Ohtani continues his reign of greatness, not just on the baseball field but also in the thrilling world of collectibles. The stage for this remarkable event was at the groundbreaking “Holy Grails” auction, an exclusive collaboration between Fanatics Collect and Sotheby’s, held in Harlem’s converted event space, Harlem Parish.
The real showstopper of the night was the auction of Ohtani’s unparalleled 2018 Topps Chrome Sapphire Autographs Superfractor rookie card, which fetched an astonishing $336,000. This sale shattered the previous record for an Ohtani card, which stood at $312,000 from December 2021. The exponential rise in the card’s value is mind-boggling, having been sold for $62,730 in October 2021 and a mere $4,800 in May 2019. Sotheby’s had initially valued the card between $80,000 and $120,000, but thanks to Ohtani’s sensational on-field achievements, the final bid soared beyond all expectations.
Reflecting on the memorable evening, Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of collectibles, expressed his admiration, particularly for the Ohtani card, which he placed in lot one. The star-studded auction was graced by luminaries like NFL icon Tom Brady, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, popular YouTuber Logan Paul, and rapper Meek Mill.
In a buzzworthy moment, Kraft made waves by acquiring a Tom Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Autograph card for a cool $120,000, seated alongside the man himself, Tom Brady, in the coveted front row.
Among the other headline-making sales was a 2022 Bowman Chrome 1st Bowman Prospect Autograph Superfractor card of promising MLB talent Elly De La Cruz, which fetched an impressive $360,000, surpassing Ohtani’s record.
However, the crown jewel of the night came in the form of a 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card featuring basketball legends Michael Jordan and Julius Erving. This singular item, boasting game-used NBA logo patches from the jerseys of both iconic players, fetched a jaw-dropping $780,000, clinching the highest bid of the evening.
The “Holy Grails” auction showcased a dazzling array of rare and coveted sports memorabilia, with Ohtani’s record-setting sale serving as the electrifying start to a night filled with awe-inspiring bids and unforgettable items.
